The Texas Tech Police Department wanted to make one thing clear to Tech football fans: Don't rush the field.
Chief Ron Seacrist of the Tech Police Department said, despite comments made Monday by Capt. Greg Stevens of the Lubbock Police Department, fans are discouraged from rushing the field after football games and may face consequences from the university or the police department.
In an interview with The Daily Toreador Monday, Stevens said the Lubbock Police Department did not have a problem with students rushing the field, as that is a safer place to celebrate than in the city.
Besides the safety of fans, players and coaches are at risk when fans rush the field, Seacrist said, rushing the field also could result in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty according to Big 12 Conference rules.
If fans rush the field, he said, the priority of officers is to keep teams and coaches safe from the fans. Students also could be arrested or referred to the university for judicial action if they become destructive or threaten the safety of others around them.
The department will hire the same amount of extra law enforcement officers for the Tech vs. Oklahoma State game as they did for the Tech-University of Texas game, Seacrist said, and could make arrests depending on the situation.
Although he said the department realistically will not be able to stop students from rushing the field, students do not have permission to do so and the department does not want students on the field.
Seacrist said while the Lubbock Police Department plays a role in helping with game preparations, the department does not have authority over operations on the field.
No arrests were made on the field after the Tech-UT game Saturday.
Chris Cook, associate director of Tech athletic media relations, said while he hopes fans do not feel the urge to rush the field after a big football game, he wants them to be careful if they do.
In the event a field rush does occur, Cook said, the top priority around the stadium is to ensure the safety of players, coaches and those working on the field.
Capt. Stevens was not immediately available for comment.
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